Scientific Discovery, Social Change, and Individual Behavior Change

Abstract

Scientific discoveries and technological advances are achieved through the expenditure of human and material resources. Clinical research and program development in mental health services are no exceptions. In the present rejoinder to Dr. Wakefield's second critique, this point is briefly discussed as well as fallacies in his claim that across-setting generalization was the main reason why behavioral programs have not been more widely utilized in the treatment of psychosis.

A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of Coaching Feedback on Teacher Implementation Fidelity of First Step to Success

“…Such disorders include depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), child conduct problems, and schizophrenia (Antonuccio, Danton, DeNelsky, Greenberg, & Gordon, 1999;Terry & Kohlenberg, 2006;Valenstein, 1998;Winston, 2006, Wong, 2006aWong, 2006b;Wong 2007;Wyatt 2003;Wyatt, 2006;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2006a;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2006b;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2007). Skinner pointed out the cultural shift many years ago when he noted that human biology had become a convenient "dumping ground" where the cause of any unexplained abnormal behavior was hypothesized to lie (Skinner, 1974).…”

New myths and harsh realities: Reply to Paul on the Implications of Paul and Lentz (1977) for Generalization From Token Economies to Uncontrolled Environments

“…In like manner, Wong, rather than entering into the discussion I initiated of the Paul and Lentz study, persuaded the Editor to invite Paul himself to newly enter the fray, thus initiating a separate thread of debate in which my commentary became the target article for Paul's critique. 4 No one offered me the option of bringing in my own intellectual 3 Wong (2000b) and Wyatt and Midkiff (2006b) subsequently replied to my overall commentary, and I have responded to them previously (Wakefield, 2007) and they have replied (Wong, 2007;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2007). 4 Paul in his commentary considers my comments only on his study.…”

Behavior Analysis in the Era of Medicalization: The State of the Science and Recommendations for Practitioners

“…Various disorders are increasingly conceptualized in biological terms even when there is either weak, or no, support for that conceptualization. Such disorders include depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), child conduct problems, and schizophrenia (Antonuccio, Danton, DeNelsky, Greenberg, & Gordon, 1999;Terry & Kohlenberg, 2006;Valenstein, 1998;Winston, 2006, Wong, 2006aWong, 2006b;Wong 2007;Wyatt 2003;Wyatt, 2006;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2006a;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2006b;Wyatt & Midkiff, 2007). Skinner pointed out the cultural shift many years ago when he noted that human biology had become a convenient "dumping ground" where the cause of any unexplained abnormal behavior was hypothesized to lie (Skinner, 1974).…”